LONDON • The former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro has reached a settlement with the English football club over her claim for constructive dismissal.

The 42-year-old also agreed to drop a claim of sex discrimination and harassment against former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as part of the confidential deal struck yesterday.

As part of the deal, Chelsea apologised "unreservedly" to Carneiro over the incident that led to her departure, when she ran onto the pitch during a match at Stamford Bridge last August to treat an injured player.

Carneiro's lawyer had told the tribunal that she heard Mourinho, angered by her decision because the team were already down to nine men, call her a "daughter of a whore" in Portuguese.

In a statement, Chelsea said Carneiro had done nothing wrong and said she was a "highly competent and professional sports doctor".

The tribunal heard on Monday that she had earlier been offered £1.2 million (S$2.4 million) to settle, which she had rejected.

Carneiro was due to begin testifying yesterday afternoon, but her appearance was delayed as the deal was thrashed out. Her testimony had the potential to be highly damaging to the club, but the deal means it will no longer be heard.

In a statement, Carneiro said she was relieved to be able to move on from "a deeply difficult and distressing time for me and my family".

"My priority has always been the health and safety of the players and fulfilling my duty of care as a doctor. In running onto the pitch to treat a player, who requested medical attention, I was following the rules of the game and fulfilling my medical responsibilities."

Chelsea released their own statement apologising for any distress caused to the club's former team doctor.

It said: "The club regrets the circumstances which led to Dr Carneiro leaving the club and apologises unreservedly to her and her family for the distress caused...

"Jose Mourinho also thanks Dr Carneiro for the excellent and dedicated support she provided as first-team doctor and he wishes her a successful career."

Carneiro had previously demanded a personal apology from Mourinho, which was not forthcoming in the Chelsea statement, which merely expressed the former manager's thanks for her efforts during her employment.

THE GUARDIAN